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Rarely do NFL players come better than George Kittle — at least not, tight ends. Such is the two-time Pro Bowler’s potential that he might be able to overtake Rob Gronkowski as the best tight end in NFL history. However, Kittle’s potential was not always obvious.

In his 25-game college career with the Iowa Hawkeyes, he managed 48 receptions for 737 yards and 10 touchdowns, average numbers that saw eight tight ends get drafted before the San Francisco 49ers selected him in the fifth round (No. 146 overall) of the 2017 draft.

While football might not have been the highlight of Kittle’s time in college, meeting the love of his life was. Looking at his Instagram, it won’t take long to see he is married to Claire, who he posts pictures of regularly. It seems only fair to learn more about the one person who lights up Kittle’s world.

George and Claire Kittle go way back

George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers looks at the crowd
Tight end George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers | Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Claire and Kittle met in their freshman year at the University of Iowa, reports the New York Post. They made acquaintance after he complimented her pink helmet, which she was wearing while riding a moped to basketball practice. They struck a friendship that gradually evolved into a romance, and they’ve been together ever since.

The couple is not shy about displaying affection for each other. By the looks of it, their relationship has remained solid, with no relationship drama making it to the tabloids.

Kittle faked a team photoshoot before proposing

Men often resort to over-the-top theatrics in search of the surprise element that is supposed to characterize marriage proposals, and Kittle was no different. The 49ers tight end got his teammates and photographer to agree to a fake photo shoot at a beach in Santa Cruz.

Kittle put everything in place, from cameras to drones and lighting. He convinced his wife that it was indeed a photoshoot meant for the team’s brochure and website. Then he caught her off guard with the proposal. She said yes, and Kittle was pleased with his effort, as 95.7 The Game reports.

Although they had planned for a grand wedding in 2020, the couple fast-tracked it to 2019, a year after their engagement. Instead of the big wedding, they opted for a small ceremony attended by family and friends. Kittle’s father, an ordained minister, officiated the ceremony held at a jewelry store in Iowa, while his mom was the official photographer.

The wedding was a major success, going by Claire’s Instagram caption for one of the wedding photos. “I love you I love you I love you! We pulled off a one-of-a-kind wedding, thank you for gifting me this unexplainable love. I’m yours forever. Claire Kittle & I mean it. I got a HUSBAND y’all!!!”

What you need to know about Claire Kittle

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Claire was born in Dubuque, Iowa, on May 24, 1994, to Marty and Shelley Till. According to TheNetline, she graduated from Wahlert High School before joining the University of Iowa, where she was part of the lady Hawkeyes basketball team. She was also the face of Fuel UP to Play 60, a program meant to inspire young people to attain their fitness goals.

Claire graduated with a bachelor’s degree in health and human psychology. Her working experiences includes being a  physical therapy assistant at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Rehabilitation Therapies before starting her own business, Claire Till Fitness, LLC, in her hometown in Iowa, per fabwags.

She also signed with JE models as a fitness model after graduation. Currently, she spends most of her time in California. In addition to motivating her Instagram followers to get fit, Claire also blogs and documents her travels.

Claire also loves interior design and was the creative mind behind their renovated Nashville property. In an interview with Niners Nation, Kittle revealed that Claire is the one that deals with the interior aspects of their residence and makes everywhere they go feel like home.